Don Limón goes organic in Europe

Andres Kuratomi, General Manager of Bengal Agricola:

Colombia: “We expect to produce 18% more pineapples”
Colombia is being affected by heavy rains that have caused disasters in regions such as Mocoa. However, according to Andres Kuratomi, the General Manager of Bengal Agricola, Colombia’s pineapple production is far from this area, so it has not been affected by the disaster, and, in any case, pineapple producers…..

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Peru: Floods donation campaign by Asica and donors
Peru has been hit by one of the worst disasters of the past 20 years. The areas most affected were Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, parts of Ancash and parts of the Lima region. “Asica’s operations are based in mainly Piura, Ancash and La Libertad and we had the duty and challenge to help our people in…..

Don Limón goes organic in Europe
Don Limón recently received an organic certification for Europe, however, the company has been supplying limes to the US for years. “We grow our organic limes in Mexico, and we send them to the north of the US and Canada,” Andreas Schindler explains. “Eight years ago, we tried to bring organic products to…..

More drugs intercepted in Port of Rotterdam
“Smart seal keeps shipment clean”
Earlier this year, a batch of 4,000 kilograms of cocaine was intercepted in a shed in Hazeldonk, just south of Breda, the Netherlands. The drugs were concealed among the bananas. The frequency of the interceptions appears to be increasing. Official figures show an increase, and according to some crime…..

New packaging introduced
Pearl onions are gaining momentum in North America
Pearl onions are gaining momentum in the West, but pearl onions are also very popular in Europe and some parts of Asia. “Italy, Germany, The Netherlands and India are all places that love including pearl onions in their cuisine,” says Andrea Dubak with Thomas Fresh. In India, you’ll see them in sweet relishes…..

Update on New Zealand apple season
“Very large harvest headed our way”
The first apples from New Zealand arrived in Europe later than expected, due to bad weather. “We had a lot of rain during the picking period, but this has had no influence on production and harvest estimates so far. This season, a record harvest is expected in New Zealand. Estimates are currently at 21,600,000…..

Onion sector invests 2 million in quality research
We asked Gijsbrecht Gunter, president of the Holland Onion Association, about the state of affairs regarding the supply chain-wide onion research that should lift the quality of Dutch onions to a higher level, so that the Netherlands can retain its leading position. In the 2017/19 period, two million euro will…..

Indonesian import conditions loosen up
Yesterday, the Indonesian Agricultural Department announced a revision of the ‘legislation for fresh food products from plants’. The revision has effectively lowered the threshold for export to Indonesia. The new policy is very favourable for export products from the Fujian province and there is hope that a…..

United FreshMKT introduces ‘The Organic Showcase’
In response to consumer and industry trends, the 2017 United FreshMKT Expo will boast more than 40 innovative organic products in the newest show floor destination area, the Organic Showcase, June 14-15 in Chicago. According to United FreshFacts® on Retail, organics have seen continued strong growth over the…..

Special South Africa

Piet Smit, Favourite Fresh Export

“Our farming practices are increasingly green.”
The Western Cape citrus season starts later than other citrus producing regions, up to four weeks later than the northern citrus areas: down south the season opens now with soft citrus, while the first Star Ruby grapefruit are already being harvested in Tshipise, close to the Zimbabwean border.In the winter of…..

Global Focus Greenhouse

Mucci Farms expands by doubling size of berry farm
Mucci Farms announces Phase Two of their strawberry farm development with a 12-acre expansion of Boem Berry Farms, doubling the current footprint to 24-acres—over 1 million square feet, to be in operation in the Fall of 2017. “I could not be more excited and proud of our entire team,” said Joe Spano, VP of…..

Sri Lankan Cargo looks to increase revenue by 9%
Sri Lankan Cargo is tasked with raising its current business volume to 15-20%, and making nearly one-fifth of the total earnings of the Airline in the near to mid term.Chamara Ranasinghe, Head of Cargo, SriLankan Airlines told The Island Financial Review last week that he and his team are confident that they…..

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Aloun Farms offering ag community fee-simple farm ownership
One of the state of Hawaii’s largest commercial farms, Aloun Farms and its subsidiary Helemano Ranch & Farms, recently unveiled the launch of Hawaii’s first, true, fee-simple agricultural community – Ohana Farm Parcels. Located on the site of a former pineapple plantation, Ohana Farm Parcels is offering…..

Farms regarded as low-hanging fruit by attackers
Farm attacks on the increase in South Africa
The murder of a Dutch citizen on a farm in the Barberton area, Mpumalanga, last week has again placed a spotlight on the worrying phenomenon of murders of farmers and farm workers in South Africa.The final crime figures for the years 2016 and 2017 (April 2016 to March 2017) haven’t yet been released by the…..

Ukraine imports record volume of bananas
Consumption of bananas in Ukraine is growing rapidly, reports APK-Inform: Vegetables and Fruits. According to official data, the import of these fruits into the Ukrainian market has doubled since the beginning of the season.In the period between September 2016 and February 2017, Ukraine imported 171 thousand…..

Maryland woman finds scorpion in spinach bag
A couple in Chevy Chase, Maryland were surprised to find a new ingredient in their salad mix, a live scorpion. Shanmukha Pranay Rajeev Jerripothula said he and his wife bought a bag of spinach from a local Giant store last week and on Monday afternoon, his wife, Sri Sindhusha Boddapati, opened the bag to make…..

Concerns about arrival of southern hemisphere supply in June
55% increase of Verna lemon production in Spain
Official data confirm a significant increase in the production of Verna lemons in Spain compared to the previous year. The total volume will grow from 193,680 tonnes in 2016 to an estimated 300,000 tonnes in 2017 (+55%). The main causes for this are the impact of the rains this winter and the entry into…..

Ceres region farmers getting by despite drought in the Western Cape
The agricultural sector has, overall, survived the worst of the recent drought that has affected South Africa over the past three years, but the Western Cape was not as fortunate as other areas. Dam levels are low and the lack of rain is reducing moisture in the soil which is threatening production.“Recent…..

All hands to the pump in rural Bay of Plenty as second cyclone looms
As rural Bay of Plenty braced itself for more heavy rainfall today, the Ministry for Primary Industries is working alongside CDEM, the local Rural Support Trust, Federated Farmers, industry bodies and volunteers to help farmers and growers get through the floods.NIWA forecaster Ben Noll says New Zealand may…..

USDA grapefruit estimate for Florida drops by 800,000 boxes
After several of months of declines, the outlook for Florida’s struggling orange production remained steady from March to April but grapefruit saw a significant drop.”It’s a tough hit for Florida’s grapefruit growers who have been so committed to fighting pest and disease to maintain this staple of Florida’s…..

New Zealand suspends imports of melons treated with demethoate
The Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has released an Industry Advice Notice (IAN) advising that New Zealand has suspended imports of Australian rockmelons and honeydew melons that have been treated with dimethoate. This suspension is effective immediately.Summary of changes…..

Martin Francis, manager at Francis Trading B.V.
“Nam Dok Mai mangoes cost around 9 Euro per kilo”
The Nam Dok Mai is a fibre-free mango variety with a sweet taste that is increasingly sought after in markets of northern Europe and Germany. “We have been selling Nam Dok Mai mangoes, which are grown in exotic countries, since the 90’s,” explains Martin Francis, manager at Francis Trading B.V. The company…..

New asparagus packaging for mid-May retail season
Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC., a Michigan asparagus grower/packer/shipper, today revealed a new packaging design in preparation for the mid-May season launch. The 12 oz, “microwave in the bag,” packaging was designed to attract impulse purchases by consumers looking for quick and easy meal ideas in the…..

Tasteful Selections adds new flavor to the Take & Shake line
Tasteful Selections™, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., is pleased to announce the release of a new flavor in their Tasteful Selections Take & Shake™ line: Cheddar Cheese. Cheddar cheese offers a savory yet explosive cheddar taste that compliments the creamy-rich texture of fresh potatoes.Aimed for…..

Chart of New Zealand kiwifruit farms by region
source: stuff.co.nz

Fruit Gourmet increases quality control with the Ishida X-ray
Fruit specialist Fruit Gourmet has selected an Ishida X-ray inspection system from Ishida Europe for enhanced quality control. The decision to install the Ishida machine follows the success of Ishida multihead weighers at the site.Fruit Gourmet supplies a variety of fruits including prunes, apricots, figs,…..

63% of Chinese consumers are eating more fresh fruit & veg
According to Mintel data, 63% of Chinese consumers are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks and one in four is consuming more nuts and seeds. Consumers’ busier lifestyles are causing them to squeeze mealtimes, thus having an impact on the snack market, Ching Yang, senior food and drink analyst at…..

‘Afrocados’ increase incomes of 20,000 Kenyan farmers
Organic avocados available in Europe used to be sourced almost exclusively from South America, but over the last few years that has changed. Leading distributor Eosta, based in the Netherlands, is now importing a lot of ‘Afrocados’ from Kenya. The fruits come from 20,000 smallholders who often have only a few…..

Duda Farm Fresh Foods partners with the Produce Mom
Training session to bring more fresh produce to schools
Duda Farm Fresh Foods has long believed in the power of giving back, and the 90-year-old company makes no exception this year. Through a partnership with The Produce Mom, Duda Farm Fresh Foods continues its dedication to making a long-lasting impact with schools across the country, with the hopes of giving…..